An apparatus includes an energy storage device, a driver circuit configured to receive energy from the energy storage device, and a bleed circuit configured to reduce an amount of the energy received by the driver circuit from the energy storage device. The bleed circuit is configured to reduce the amount of the energy received by the driver circuit during a startup period. The energy storage device may include a transformer, the driver circuit and bleed circuit being coupled to first and second windings of the transformer, respectively. A method includes receiving, by a driver circuit, energy from an energy storage device, and reducing, using a bleed circuit, the energy received by the driver circuit during a startup period. The energy storage device may include a transformer, the driver circuit and bleed circuit being coupled to first and second windings of the transformer, respectively.
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1. An apparatus comprising: an energy storage device; a driver circuit configured to receive energy from the energy storage device; and a bleed circuit configured to reduce an amount of the energy received by the driver circuit from the energy storage device, wherein the driver circuit is configured to receive the energy from the storage device during a discharge interval, and wherein the bleed circuit is configured to reduce the amount of the energy received by the driver circuit during the discharge interval.
An apparatus includes an energy storage device, a driver circuit, and a bleed circuit. The driver circuit receives energy from the energy storage device during a discharge interval. The bleed circuit reduces the amount of energy received by the driver circuit during the same discharge interval. This setup is designed to manage energy flow during the discharge phase.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bleed circuit is configured to reduce the amount of the energy received by the driver circuit during a startup period.
The apparatus from the previous description, including an energy storage device, a driver circuit, and a bleed circuit, further specifies that the bleed circuit reduces the energy received by the driver circuit during a startup period. This helps prevent overshoot during the initial activation of the circuit.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to store the energy into the energy storage device during a charge interval, and wherein the charge interval is disjoint from the discharge interval.
The apparatus, with its energy storage device, driver circuit, and bleed circuit, also stores energy into the energy storage device during a charge interval. This charge interval is separate from the discharge interval where the driver circuit receives energy and the bleed circuit reduces it. The charging and discharging phases do not overlap.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the apparatus is configured to receive a control signal and control a magnitude of the energy stored into the energy storage device according to the control signal.
The apparatus, including the energy storage device, driver circuit, and bleed circuit with separate charge and discharge intervals, receives a control signal to adjust the amount of energy stored in the energy storage device. The magnitude of stored energy is controlled based on this external input, enabling dynamic energy management.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bleed circuit is configured to begin reducing the amount of the energy received by the driver circuit at a bleed start time determined according to a delay time from an end of the charge interval, a voltage produced by the energy stored in the energy storage device, or both.
In the apparatus with the energy storage device, driver circuit, and bleed circuit, the bleed circuit begins reducing energy to the driver circuit at a specific "bleed start time." This start time is determined either by a delay after the charge interval ends, the voltage produced by the energy stored in the energy storage device, or a combination of both, providing flexible timing control for bleed activation.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bleed circuit is configured to stop reducing the amount of the energy received by the driver circuit at a bleed stop time determined according to one or more of a duration from an end of the charge interval, a time from a bleed start time, and a voltage produced by the energy stored in the energy storage device.
In the apparatus with the energy storage device, driver circuit, and bleed circuit, the bleed circuit stops reducing energy to the driver circuit at a "bleed stop time." This stop time is determined by the duration from the end of the charge interval, the time elapsed since the bleed start time began, the voltage of the energy storage device, or a combination of these factors. This manages the duration and termination of the bleed function.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device includes a transformer, wherein the driver circuit is coupled to a primary winding of the transformer, and wherein the bleed circuit is coupled to an auxiliary winding of the transformer.
In the apparatus, the energy storage device is a transformer. The driver circuit is connected to the transformer's primary winding, and the bleed circuit is connected to an auxiliary winding. By placing the driver and bleed circuits on separate windings, the system allows control over energy flow to the driver via the auxiliary bleed circuit.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the bleed circuit is configured to reduce the amount of the energy received by the driver circuit by controlling a current of the auxiliary winding.
The apparatus includes a transformer as the energy storage device, a driver circuit on the primary winding, and a bleed circuit on the auxiliary winding. The bleed circuit reduces the amount of energy reaching the driver circuit by controlling the current flowing through the auxiliary winding. Manipulating this current alters energy transfer to the primary winding and driver circuit.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a voltage supply circuit configured to provide a supply voltage and coupled to the auxiliary winding.
The apparatus uses a transformer with a primary winding for the driver circuit and an auxiliary winding for the bleed circuit. It also includes a voltage supply circuit connected to the auxiliary winding, providing power to the bleed circuit and enabling it to function.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a dimming system.
The apparatus, which includes an energy storage device, a driver circuit, and a bleed circuit, is implemented as a dimming system. The bleed circuit enables deep dimming startup by preventing overshoot, resulting in smoother and more controlled dimming operation.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is provided in an integrated circuit.
The apparatus, comprising an energy storage device, a driver circuit, and a bleed circuit, is implemented within an integrated circuit (IC). This allows for miniaturization and integration of the overshoot prevention functionality into a single chip.
12. A method comprising: receiving, by a driver circuit, energy from an energy storage device; reducing, using a bleed circuit, the energy received by the driver circuit during a startup period; storing the energy into the energy storage device during a plurality of charge intervals; receiving the energy from the energy storage device during a plurality of discharge intervals interleaved with the plurality of charge intervals; and reducing the energy received by the driver circuit during the plurality of discharge intervals during the startup period.
A method involves a driver circuit receiving energy from an energy storage device. A bleed circuit reduces the energy the driver circuit receives during a startup period. The energy storage device is charged during multiple charge intervals, and the driver circuit receives energy during multiple discharge intervals interleaved with the charge intervals. The bleed circuit reduces energy during these discharge intervals during the startup period.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the energy storage device is a transformer, wherein the driver circuit is coupled to a first winding of the transformer, and wherein the bleed circuit is coupled to a second winding of the transformer.
In this method, a driver circuit receives energy from an energy storage device and a bleed circuit reduces this energy during startup. The energy storage device is a transformer. The driver circuit connects to the transformer's first winding, and the bleed circuit connects to the transformer's second winding. The different windings allow for control of energy delivery to the driver via the bleed circuit on the second winding.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein reducing the energy received by the driver circuit includes controlling a current of the second winding of the transformer.
The method involves a driver circuit receiving energy from a transformer's first winding, and a bleed circuit connected to the transformer's second winding reduces this energy during startup. Reducing the energy involves controlling the current flowing through the second winding of the transformer, which affects the energy transferred to the first winding and the driver circuit.
15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising: starting the reduction of the energy received by the driver circuit according to a delay time after a charge interval, a voltage of the energy storage device, or both.
In the method where a driver circuit receives energy and a bleed circuit reduces it during startup, starting the energy reduction by the bleed circuit is triggered by a delay time after a charge interval ends, the voltage level of the energy storage device, or a combination of both. This timing control enables precise bleed activation.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising: stopping the reduction of the energy received by the driver circuit according to one or more of a duration from an end of the charge interval, a time of starting the reduction of the energy received by the driver circuit, and the voltage produced by the energy stored in the energy storage device.
The method reduces energy using a bleed circuit during startup. Stopping the bleed circuit's energy reduction is determined by the duration from the end of the charge interval, the time elapsed since the reduction started, the voltage of the energy storage device, or a combination of these factors. This allows precise control of the bleed period.
17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising: receiving a control signal; and controlling a magnitude of the energy stored in the energy storage device according to the control signal.
The method, involving a driver circuit receiving energy and a bleed circuit reducing it, incorporates receiving a control signal and controlling the magnitude of energy stored in the energy storage device based on that signal. This allows for dynamic adjustment of energy storage according to external commands.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
February 12, 2015
March 28, 2017
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